Sports
President Tinubu approves nationwide upgrades of sports infrastructure ahead of 2026 National Sports Festival
• Image: Moshood Abiola Stadium Abuja
President Bola Tinubu has approved a comprehensive upgrade of sports infrastructure across the country, especially in states hosting upcoming editions of the National Sports Festival.
This is disclosed by the National Sports Commission in a statement signed by its Director of Press, Dr. (Mrs.) Kehinde Ajayi.
The infrastructure includes the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja,whose pitch and tartan tracks have fallen into a state of disrepair that has limited their use by Nigeria’s national teams.
Beyond Abuja, the Federal Government approved direct support for states hosting the next three editions of the National Sports Festival;
Enugu State, which hosts the next edition later this year, will receive funding for an Olympic-size swimming pool, an upgraded indoor sports hall, and rehabilitated athletes’ hostels, among other projects.
Nationwide, approvals were also granted for the establishment of sports centres across 15 tertiary institutions spread across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, as well as the construction of 20 mini sports centres and mini stadiums in communities across the country — targeted at youth engagement, grassroots development, and local economic opportunity.
Work is already underway on several other major stadium projects under NSC-led partnerships.
The Ahmadu Bello Stadium in Kaduna is undergoing total redevelopment in collaboration with the Kaduna State Government under Governor Uba Sani, with completion expected in 2027.
Construction is also progressing on the new Bichi Stadium in Kano through a collaboration between the NSC and the National Assembly.
Sports
Lightning kills 24-year-old Thailand footballer during match
Video footage from the match shows players running across the rain-soaked pitch when a lightning bolt suddenly struck the ground near them, producing a bright flash followed by flames and smoke.
•Safwan Awae
A 24-year-old footballer,Safwan Awae has died and 12 other players were injured after lightning struck a football pitch during a match in southern Thailand.
The incident occurred on August 4, 2026, at Santiphap Stadium in Narathiwat province as a monsoon storm brought heavy rain during the game.
Video footage from the match shows players running across the rain-soaked pitch when a lightning bolt suddenly struck the ground near them, producing a bright flash followed by flames and smoke.
The lightning struck Safwan Awae, who collapsed on the pitch.Spectators and others at the stadium immediately rushed onto the field in an attempt to help the player, while emergency responders were called to the scene.
Sports
Ugandan soccer star dies after assault in capital
“David was not just a footballer. He was both a leader and an inspiration to a generation. As Captain of SC Villa, he led with courage, humility and passion. In the Uganda Cranes jersey, he carried the hopes of a nation,” the Federation of Uganda Football Associations said in a statement.
• David Owori, SC Villa captain
Uganda international footballer David Owori, captain of one of the country’s biggest soccer clubs, has died after an assault in the capital Kampala, police said.
Owori, 28, captain of SC Villa, was critically injured by unidentified assailants in a suburb of Kampala on Tuesday, police spokesperson Racheal Kawala said.
He was found unconscious by passers-by, who took him to a nearby hospital.
He was transferred to another hospital where he was later pronounced dead, Kawala said.
“David was not just a footballer. He was both a leader and an inspiration to a generation. As Captain of SC Villa, he led with courage, humility and passion. In the Uganda Cranes jersey, he carried the hopes of a nation,” the Federation of Uganda Football Associations said in a statement.
Sports
FIFA back Infantino at crisis meeting but shelve World Cup privatisation plan
Infantino has come under increasing pressure, even from within his organisation, over his handling of the aborted plan to open the World Cup to private investment , fuelling calls for him to step down.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has received the “full support” of senior directors on Wednesday at a crisis meeting in Morocco.
Infantino has come under increasing pressure, even from within his organisation, over his handling of the aborted plan to open the World Cup to private investment , fuelling calls for him to step down.
In a statement Wednesday, FIFA’s leadership acknowledged “that errors were also made after the proposal was leaked to media”.
After Wednesday’s meeting in Rabat, the FIFA Secretary General and members of the FIFA Management Board in attendance said in a statement they “reaffirmed their full support for FIFA President Gianni Infantino, as the only official elected by the 211 FIFA Member Associations.
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